Conveyor control system



June 8, 1965 J. F. KRUPKA 3,187,875

CONVEYOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed sept. s, 1962 s sheets-sheet 1 June s,1965 J, F. KRUPKA 3,187,875

CONVEYOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed sept. 6, 1962 s sheets-sneer 2 c,

muy ff/'M @E June 8, 1965 J. F. KRUPKA 3,187,875

coNvEyon coNTRoL SYSTEM Filed sept. 6, 1962 's sheets-sheet s Qin@ 7M @5UnitedStates Patent O 3,187,375 CGNVEYR CN'IRL SYSTEM John F. Irupka,Wimettc, Ill., assigner to National Dairy Products Corporation, Chicago,Iii., a corporation of Delaware YFiled Sept. 6, ,1962, Ser. No. 221,7464 Claims. (Cl. 198--32) This invention relates to a traffic controlsystem for converging conveyors. More particularly it relates to adevice for arresting the movement of articles along one conveyor line ina system of two converging lines, so that the articles traveling alongthe other conveyor are always f i given preferential treatment.

Previously many mechanisms have been developed to control the trahiebetween merging conveyors through the use of movable gates to preventjamming or derailment of the articles carried along the conveyors at thepoint of merger. Many of these devices were designed to operate bycutting off electric power to one of the conveyors to temporarily haltits movement. Also, many of these devices gave preference to thearticles of whichever conveyor was the first to reach a certain point,thus creating a possibility of a back-up along the non-preferredconveyor. Then too in such prior devices, if articles were to reach bothgates simultaneously, the device was rendered inoperative and had to belcleared by hand.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved system forcontrolling the traffic between two converging conveyors. -It is afurther object of this invention to provide a system which will assurecontinuous flow along one main conveyor, feeding articles from the otherconveyor whenever there are gaps inthe ow of articles along the mainconveyor. It is a further object to provide an improved system suitablefor use with either gravity-type or powered conveyors. It is a stillfurther object to pro` vide a simple mechanical device for controllingthe traffic between two converging conveyors.

These and other objects of the invention are more par ticularly setforth in the following detailed description and in the accompanyingdrawings of which:

l FIGURE l is a plan view of a conveyor system with articles movingalong the feed conveyor only.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with articles on neither of theconveyors.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with articles on both theconveyors, with the latching means in the intermediate position.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, with the llatching means in thelocked position.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective, partially broken away,of the latching means.

FIGURE 6 is a planview of the latching means shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a right side elevation view of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is .an enlarged fragmentary perspective Y view of the firstgate member.

The invention provides a simple mechanical device for controlling thetraiiic along two converging conveyors,

so that the article flow along the mainconveyor is given preference andnever interrupted. Generally, with reference to FIGURE 1, Vthe inventionprovides a mechanical ICC` of merger, the latching means 25 is moved toan intermediate or ready position. If at this time the first gate member21 is not in engagement with an article on the feed conveyor 13, thelatching means 25 is immediately locked. If the first gate member 21 iscurrently engaged, the latching means 25 remains in the ready positionuntil the article has passed. Then, as soon as the first gate member isreleased, the latching means 25 locks the first gate member 21 in aposition where it will block the articles Ipassing along the feedconveyor. When a gap appears in the iiow of .articles along the mainconveyor 11, the second gate member 23 swings back across the conveyorand releases the latching means, allowing the feed conveyor 13 to onceagain send articles to the point of junction.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, FIG- URES 1-4illustrate a traffic control system embodying various of the features ofthe invention. A conveyor 11, referred to as the main conveyor, and aconveyor 13, referred to as the feeder conveyor, converge into a singleconveyor line (not shown). The invention is especially useful inregulating the traffic flow along a pair of powerdriven conveyors whichmust be kept continuously running so as not to interfere with operationsat the heads of the conveyors, and will be described in respect to such.a pair of conveyors having endless belts which will easily slide underblocked articles. However, it is readily apparent that the invention canalso be used with gravitypowered or intermittently run conveyors.

To regulate the flow of articles 15 along the conveyors and thuseliminate jam-ups, a traffic control device 17 is provided, locatedbetween the conveyors 11, 13. The control device 17 includes asupporting frame 19. The articles 15 are shaped to depict articles suchas cans or glass jars having circular cross-sections, but it is clearthatthe flow of other articles can likewise be regulated.

To physically contact the articles passing along `the conveyors 11 and13, the pair of gate members 23 and 21, respectively, are provided. Toallow the gate member 21 to be locked in place across the feederconveyor 13 so as to block the passage of articles 15 therealongalatching means 25 suitable for locking a first gate member member 23,positioned normally transversely across the main or preferred conveyor`11, is engaged and pivot-ed latching means 25 is provided. In order toactuate the latching means 25 in response to` movement of the gatemember 23, a camming' means 27 is provided.

The first gate member 21 (see FIG. 8) 'is iixedly.

mounted on a pivotal block`29 as by a bolt 30. The block 29 contains Vabearing 31 and pivots about a verti- Vcal shaft 33 carried by the frame19. A connecting arm FIGURE 4. The gate member 21 is normally biased tol this blocking position as will be later described.

The second gate member 23 (FIG. 6) is lixedly mounted on a generallycircularcam element 37 which forms a part lof the camming means 27. TheVsecond gate member 23 is located so as to pivot between a passingposition with respect to the main conveyor 11, as shown in FIG. 3, and atransverse or engaging position, as shown in FIG. 1. The gate member 23is biased to the transverse position by a-spring 39 which is attached atone end to a support- Ving pin 41 mounted on the upper surface of thecam elet ment 37 and adjustably attached at its other end tothe byarticles moving therealong andapproaching the `point frame-19 by asuitable bracket and eye assembly 43.

e The camelement 37 contains a center bearing (not shown) and isrotatablymounted between a pair of collars 45 upon a main verticalshaft47. The main shaft .tion between the cam element 37 Vand the disc53.

of the latch bar 55.

47 is secured to the supporting'frame in any suitable manner, as` by acollar 49 welded to the upperV surface of the frame i9. The cam element37 contains a concave-convex surface l which Vserves to actuate thelatching means 25.

' The latching'means 2.5 comprises a circular disc 53 rov tatablymounted on the shalt i7 below the cam element 37. The disc 53 has anotch 5d cutI out from its periphery, the function of which will behereinafter described.

To provide a pivot point for a latch bar 55, a supporting arm V57 isxedly mounted on the shalt 427 at a posi- The latch bar 55 pivots on asmall shaft 59 xedly set in the supporting arm 57 at a point near the'end thereof. To provide for locking engagement between the latch bar 55and the disc 53, a dog tilt'. is pivotally attached to one end The dog6l is supported upon a horizontal shaft of?. which is set into the endof the latch 1 bar 5S and is held in position as by a cap 63 pressedover the end of the shaft 62. The dog 6l carries a roller ed which isproportioned to lit into the notch 5d in'the'disc 53 and lock thelatching means Z5'. The dog el is biased to this locking position'by atension spring 65, one end of which is connected to a bracket o7 ixedlysecured to the upper surface of the dog 6l (FlGURE 5). The other end ofthe spring 65 is adjustably attached to a bracket and eye assembly o9mounted on the frame i9. The spring 65 thus biases the dog 6l in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FlGURE 7. At thesame time, thespring o5 alsoserves to bias the latch bar S5 in the clockwisedirection, as viewed in FlGURE 6, thus keeping a cam follower 7l, whichis mounted on the latch Ubar 55, in Contact with the camming surface 5l.

The Vdisc 53 containing the notch 54 is biased clockwise, as viewed inFIGURE V6 by a tensionv spring 73. Accordingly, the first gate member2li, which is Ylinlted to the disc 53 via the connecting rod'i, isbiased to the .blocking positionby the action offtliis spring 73. Oneend of this spring 73 is connected to a pin 75 depending y,from thelower surface of the disc 53, and the other end of the spring 73 isadjustably attachedV to a bracket and eye assembly 77 mounted. on theframe lh. To limit the vclockwise movement of the discSl, a stop pin 79is provided on the upper surface of the disc 53. The pin '79 ispositioned so that it` engages the side of the supporting arm 57 whenthe disc notch 54 reaches the locking position. in this position, theconnecting arm 35, which is pivotally v v`connected to the undersidegofthe disc 53, holds the first .n the position shown vin FGURE 2 whenthere are no articles passing along the conveyors.

ln this position the iirst gate member 2l is free to be pivoted to thepassing position by articles proceeding along the feed conveyor as shownin FIGURE l.

ln this connection, the lower disc 53, associated with gate member 2l,is free to rotate because the roller ed is not seated in the notch 5d.

.When articles are passing along the main conveyor il sol as to pivotthe second gate member 23 to its passing position, the camy element 37is in its actuating position. In this position, the `cam element 37 haspivoted the latch bar 55 countercloclrwise so that the roller 641 rispositioned to engage the notch 54:- as soon as the notch moves intoalignment. As previously stated, the spring o5 biases the roller to thisnotch-engaging position. This vintermediate orready position ofthelatching means 25 is illustrated in FIGURE 3 and occurs whenever thesecond As can be seen in `FIGURE V2, when the disc 53 is spring 39, thelatching means 2d is unlocked.

gate member 23 arrives at its passing position Vat a time when a passingarticle on the feed conveyor i3 is also engaging the first gate member21.

As soon as the particular article l5 on the conveyor 13 which has beenengaging the iirst gate member 2l has passed, the spring 73 immediatelypivots the gate 2l bacli to its transverse position, shown in FlGURE 4.The disc 53 is accordingly rotated clockwise until the notch :ifitherein is aligned with the rollers-tl. biased roller ed snaps into thenotch 5d, thereby locking the latching means and retaining the gate 2lin the transverse position, blocking `the iiow ot articles along thefeed conveyor 13.

As can bev seen in FIGURE 4, the gate members are located at positionsalong the conveyors such that the ilow of articles along the feedconveyor i3 is halted in time so that the last article allowed to pass-will clear the point of junction before the leading article on the mainconveyor l reaches this point. Any chance of a collision betweenarticles from the dilierent conveyors is hereby averted. Also, toprovide smooth operation of the device-lt?, second gate member 23 issufficiently long Vthat it will be engaged by articles in any oi thethree positions in the line shown in FIGURE 4. .Thus the latching means25 will remain locked even though there may be some slight intervalbetween articles bei-ng carried along the main conveyor lll.

` When there is a gap VinV the article flow along the main conveyor llllargeV enough to allow the gate 23 to be swung back transversely acrossthe conveyor by the ln this respect, the cam element 37 rotatescounterclockwise on the shaft 47 and the cam follower 7lfollows alongthe cumming surface 5i to concave portion thereof because el VVthebiasing effect o-.the spring 65. When the cam fonower l reaches theconcave portion, the latch bar has been pivoted clockwise a suicientdistance to dis-V engage the roller 6ft from the notch 5d. Thus, thedisc '53 is free to rotate, andthe articles on the feed conveyor canpivot the gate tothe passing position shown in FlGURE l.

Thus, there hasV been disclosed an improved traffic control d vicesuitable for use with two'converging conveyors. The device is one solelymechanical in construction which requires no electricalcircuitry for itsoperaf specific conveyor.r

rThe form of theA inventionshown and described is merely illustrativeand such changes as would be expected .from oneV skilled in thel artare` contemplatedy as being within the scope'of the invention.

Various of thefeatures of the invention are set forth v inthefollowingclaims.

l claim: l v

l. A `conveyor traflic controldevice for regulating the movement ofarti-cles at Vthe junction of a main conveyor Ianda feed conveyor soasto always give preference to articles on the main conveyor, whichdev-ice comprises a frame located near `the junction, a gate member andacontrol member pivotally mounted'on said frame, said gate `and c-ontrolmember-s beingV adapted to extend transversely overthe feed and mainconveyors, respectively, in positions to engage articles being carriedtherealong, means biasing said members to Vsaid transverse positions,latching means for locking said gaternember in said transyverse.position, freely movable camming means attached -L to said controlmember Vso that said control member remains always pivotable andconnectedto said latching means, said camming means being operable torlock said latching meansin response to pivotal movement of said Thecont-rol member caused by its engagement by articles passing along themain conveyor, whereby passage of articles on the feed conveyor isblocked by said gate member.

2. A conveyor traic control device for regulating the movement ofarticles at the junction of a main conveyor and a feed conveyor so as toalways give preference to articles on the main conveyor, which devicecomp-rises a frame Vlocated near the junction, a gate member .and .acontrol member pivotally mounted on said frame, said gate and controlmembers being adapted t-o swing between a passing position and anengaging position extending transversely over p the feed and mainconveyors, respectively, .so as to engage articles being carriedtherealong7 means biasing said members to said transverse positions,latching means for holding said gate member in said transverse position,said latching means being movable between an unlocked position, anintermediate position, yand a locked position, means urging saidlatching means to said locked position, camming means attach to saidcontrol member and engaging said latching means, said camming meansbeing operable in response to pivotal movement of `said control memberto said passing position to move saidlatching means to said intermediateposition wherein said urging means will lock said latching means uponmovement of said gate member to said transverse position, therebyblocking passage of articles on the feed conveyor.

3. A conveyor traiic control device for regulating the movement ofarticles at the junction of a main conveyor and a feed conveyor so as toalways give preference to articles on the main conveyor, which devicecomprises a frame located near the junction, a supporting shaft mountedon said frame, a camming element and a disc rotatably mounted on saidshaft, said disc having a notch in its periphery, a gate member and acontrol member extending over the feed and m-ain conveyors,respectively, and adapted for swinging movement between positionstransverse the conveyors and passing positions, whereby movement ofarticles along said conveyors causes move ment of said members to saidpassing positions, means biasing said members to said transversepositions, latchmg means linking said camming element and said disc,

said latching means including an element engageable with said notch,means connecting said gate member with said disc, and means connectingsaid control member to said cam element so ,that movement of saidcontrol member to said passing position rotates said cam element therebyactuating said latching means so that said latching element engages saidnotch upon movement of said gate member to said transverse position andthereby locks said gate member in said transverse position to block ilowalong the feed conveyor.

4. A conveyor tratiic control device for regulating the movement ofarticles at the junction of a main conveyor and a feed conveyor so as toalways give preference to articles on the main conveyor, which devicecomprises a frame located near the junction, a supporting shaft mountedon said frame, a camming element and a disc rotatably mounted on saidshaft, said disc having a notch in its periphery, a gate membersupported on said frame and adapted to swing between a positiongenerally transverse the feed conveyor and a passing position uponengagement by each Y passing artic-le, a control member adapted to swing`between a position generally transverse said main conveyor and apassing position, means biasing said members to said transversepositions, latching means linking 'said camming element and said disc,said latching References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS3,064,792 11/62 Broff 198-32 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner.

1. A CONVEYOR TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE MOVEMENT OFARTICLES AT THE JUNCTION OF A MAIN CONVEYOR AND A FEED CONVEYOR SO AS TOALWAYS GIVE PREFERENCE TO ARTICLES ON THE MAIN CONVEYOR, WHICH DEVICECOMPRISES A FRAME LOCATED NEAR THE JUNCTION, A GATE MEMBER AND A CONTROLMEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, SAID GATE AND CONTROL MEMBERSBEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OVER THE FEED AND MAIN CONVEYORS,RESPECTIVELY, IN POSITIONS TO ENGAGE ARTICLES BEING CARRIED THEREALONG,MEANS BIASING SAID MEMBERS TO SAID TRANSVERSE POSITIONS, LATCHING MEANSFOR LOCKING SAID GATE MEMBER IN SAID TRANSVERSE POSITION, FREELY MOVABLECAMMING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID CONTROL MEMBER SO THAT SAID CONTROLMEMBER REMAINS ALWAYS PIVOTABLE AND CONNECTED TO SAID LATCHING MEANS,SAID CAMMING MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO LOCK SAID LATCHING MEANS INRESPONSE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER CAUSED BY ITSENGAGEMENT BY ARTICLES PASSING ALONG THE MAIN CONVEYOR, WHEREBY PASSAGEOF ARTICLES ON THE FEED CONVEYOR IS BLOCKED BY SAID GATE MEMBER.